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TheFosterFirmWins.com • 404-559-8325 • December 2024/January 2025
Kwanzaa Is a Bridge to Ancestral Pride and Purpose 7 DAYS, 7 LIGHTS, 7 LESSONS
In a society that often pushes us to define ourselves by fragmented identities, Kwanzaa offers something deeply grounding. For me, Kwanzaa is so much more than just seven special days of reflection; it’s a way to honor the resilience of African Americans throughout the oppression they have faced while embracing some of our most beloved holiday traditions, like Christmas. Though I identify as an American with all my heart, we as a people have not always had the same rights that should be ours. Kwanzaa is a chance to reconnect with my ancestral culture and history and enjoy the season’s celebrations. The History of Kwanzaa Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a figure of the civil rights justice movement and the chair of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach. He wanted to find a way to bring African Americans together as a community in the aftermath of the Los Angeles Watts Riots — six days of riots motivated by the racist, discriminatory, and abusive practices of the Los Angeles Police Department. He researched traditional harvest celebrations celebrated by African cultures like the Ashanti and Zulu. These cultural first-fruit events inspired the weeklong holiday of Kwanzaa and its traditions. Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase that means “first fruits.” Celebrating Kwanzaa Though every family may celebrate this weeklong holiday in their own way, the festivities often include songs, dance, drumming, storytelling, and a large meal.
On each of the seven nights, the family lights one candle on a candleholder, each representing a different principle that reflects the values of African culture. Along with the candles, there are seven symbols associated with the holiday, like gifts exchanged among family members, the candleholder itself, the crops, special straw or cloth placemats, and a special cup passed around to each family member to drink from, symbolizing unity. Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) The principles of Kwanzaa are the heart of the holiday, each offering a guiding light for strengthening communities and honoring shared heritage. These principles are more than ideals; they are a blueprint for how we can lift each other up. • Umoja (Unity): The first day is about striving for unity in the family, community, nation, and race. • Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Day two focuses on defining, creating, naming, and speaking for ourselves as a people and individuals. • Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): The next candle represents a promise to build and maintain the community together, treating our brothers’ and sisters’ problems as our own so we can get through them together. • Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): This principle similarly encourages us to work together in business and profit as a community.
• Nia (Purpose): Purpose is another critical principle that inspires us to focus on developing our community to reconnect our people to their traditional greatness. • Kuumba (Creativity): We celebrate creativity and the commitment to help each other in every way we can, leaving our community even more beautiful and stronger than it was before. • Imani (Faith): On the last night, we talk about faith — the importance of believing in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the “righteousness and victory of our struggle.” Even after the last light of Kwanzaa is lit, the holiday’s impact and meaning last for much longer. The seven principles are a call to action, a framework for resilience, and a bridge to a deeper understanding of who we are as individuals and as members of the African American community. Here’s to carrying the spirit of Kwanzaa forward, lighting the path for generations to come.
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A Legacy of Justice We Must Uphold THE PREAMBLE MEETS THE DREAM
When you enter my office, one of the first things you will see is a picture of the American flag with poignant and vital words. The red stripes contain some of the most well-known lines of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and the white stripes contain the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. It’s a tapestry of ideals, combining two of our nation’s most powerful calls to action. This image inspires me daily, and these words continue to ask us to pause and reflect on their true meaning. Sometimes, we can grow numb to these words’ deeper meaning and context beyond the famous excerpts everyone knows. I encourage you to read both of these and consider how they are related. ‘I Have a Dream’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” is a timeless anthem of hope, justice, and equality that calls for us not to judge anyone by their appearance, whether it’s race, gender, or disability. It resonates universally; we all hope to be judged on our abilities, character, and how we treat others. Its profoundly personal message speaks to the core of human dignity and a desire to be seen, heard, and included for who we truly are. It reminds us that inclusion and equality are not abstract ideas but values we should constantly aspire to in our country. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.” — Declaration of Independence Do you know the whole speech? When you hear the words, do you feel inspired to take action or to think about what a person can do instead of what a person looks like? What does unity mean to you? “With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” — Martin Luther King Jr. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is a document we all learned about in school, but its preamble is a powerful statement of the principles our country is based on, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Like “I Have a Dream,” it declares that all people are created equal and should have certain rights regardless of
appearance. The Preamble calls us to action, urging us to uphold the rights of individuals and ensure that our actions as a nation reflect these core values. When you read these words, what does “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” mean to you? How do these ideals apply to the way we treat each other today? “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” — Declaration of Independence As you consider each of these powerful messages, I encourage you to explore how they are intertwined. Both call for a world where people are not judged by appearance but by their character, and both are a call to action for equality. You can discuss these powerful words with your family and loved ones. I hope that, as a country and as individuals, we will always feel inspired by these messages and continue to work toward a world where everyone’s rights are respected.
TO READ THE “I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH, VISIT NPR.
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How to Turn Reluctance Into Responsibility Teens and Chores
things need to get done — “Because I said so!” — it can help to pitch chores as ways your teens can help around the house. Talk about everything that needs to be done to contribute to a healthy, happy home. There’s grocery shopping, feeding the dog, doing the laundry, maintaining the ever- growing collection of succulents, you name it. This will give them more perspective into how much their parents currently take on. Then, break down which responsibilities they’ll be assigned to complete and how often you expect them to do each task. Good work deserves a reward.
No one loved doing household chores growing up, but chores are great for building character and work ethic. If we shirk our responsibilities, we inevitably turn into vegetables — couch potatoes. No doubt, convincing your teenagers of the value of hard work and the importance of doing their chores can be trying at times. Sure, many grumble about “kids these days” and how parenting used to be, but we should remember that child-rearing has come a long way since the old days. For example, when Aztec children refused to do their chores, their parents would hold them over smoking chilies, resulting in eye-watering, skin-irritating torment — basically the Mesoamerican equivalent of pepper spraying kids in the face. The further we can get from that standard of parenting, the better. So, here are two tips to help convince your teens to chip in around the house — no peppers needed. Frame it differently. Sometimes, all you need is a change in perspective. Rather than simply stating that
Chore money has always been a great incentive to encourage teens to do their part around the home. These days, there are even
apps, like BusyKid, that assign a monetary value to different chores around the house. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank, but teaching your kids that hard work pays off can motivate them to accomplish more around the home.
One-Pot Brothy Beans With Herbs & Lemon
INGREDIENTS
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1 lb dried white beans
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1 tbsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
3 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, quartered
1/2 tsp chili flakes
2 shallots, quartered 1 stick celery, chopped 5 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp dried thyme
6–8 cups vegetable stock Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 tbsp white miso 1–2 tbsp lemon juice
DIRECTIONS
1. Soak beans overnight in water with 1 tbsp of salt. Drain and set aside. 2. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add onions, shallots, and celery. Brown all sides lightly, about 10 minutes. 3. Add garlic, thyme, oregano, paprika, and chili flakes. Stir and sauté about 1–2 minutes. 4. Add beans and 6 cups of stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. Cook for 1 1/2 hours partially covered, adding more stock if needed. 5. In a measuring cup, combine miso and a cup of hot stock from the pot. Whisk to dissolve, then pour back into the pot. Test doneness, add lemon juice, then serve garnished with chopped parsley.
SPOTLIGHT
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Holiday Principles to Ground, Unite, and Lift Us page 1 2 Historic Calls to Action page 2 Encouraging Teens to Help Around the House page 3 One-Pot Brothy Beans With Herbs & Lemon page 3 Shed Pounds Without Dieting page 4
Natural Stepping Stones to Lasting Weight Loss
About 40% of Americans consider themselves overweight, driving rapid growth in both prescription and non- prescription weight-loss drugs and supplements. However, the best route to lasting weight loss for many people is more straightforward and costs less. Here are four natural ways to manage your appetite and shed pounds without pricey prescription meds or supplements. Eat more protein. High-protein foods make you feel fuller for longer and help you consume fewer calories overall without the sugar rebound you get from carb-heavy snacks. Protein also helps maintain muscle mass while losing weight; muscle burns more calories than fat! Enjoy
high-protein Greek yogurt, eggs, chicken, turkey, and fish to feel satisfied on less.
fiber carrots, however, will ease that hollow feeling for a while. To help you feel satisfied throughout the day, add fiber-rich foods such as whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice, veggies, fruits like apples and oranges, and potatoes to your diet. Find enjoyable ways to exercise. Sustaining physical activity is important in maintaining a healthy weight, but your workouts don’t have to be a forced march. Find ways to reward yourself as you move, such as walking in your favorite park or listening to great music or podcasts on the treadmill. If finding an excellent personal trainer motivates you to get to the gym, then budget for that. Whatever it takes, your health is worth the effort!
Drink more liquids. Many people neglect hydration and mistake thirst for hunger. While there is no one- size-fits-all rule, according to the National Academy of Medicine, men need about 13 cups of water a day, and women need about nine, including the water and juices in fruits and vegetables. Staying well-hydrated will help keep your energy level high, your skin moist and radiant, and your mood upbeat. Eat, don’t drink, your calories. An 8-ounce glass of Coke has the same 100 calories as four medium-size carrots, but the Coke won’t sate your hunger. The high-
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